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Admissions Welcome

Buongiorno! On behalf of our vibrant and joyful community, we welcome you to La Scuola International School. The Bay Area’s best and only Reggio Emilia Inspired school offering International Baccalaureate programs and Italian language immersion.

We believe that the world has changed and it’s time for education to catch up. That’s why, every day, it’s the students at La Scuola International School who ask challenging questions. They lead—and embrace—their own ability to learn across the lines of subject, culture, and language.

As the only Reggio Emilia-Inspired, International Baccalaureate and Italian language immersion school in the world, our mission is to "inspire brave learners to shape the future." We educate the whole child - intellectually, physically, and emotionally - in a joyful and aesthetically beautiful environment.

Our inquiry-based immersive Italian language curriculum for Preschool - Grade 8 students allows them to foster critical and creative thinking skills, confidence, collaboration, and empathy.

Meet Our Admissions Team

Paola Barberi

Paola Barberi

Biography:

Paola hails from Oleggio, a small town near lago Maggiore in the Piemonte region of Italy where she lived until obtaining her diploma in languages and literature from the Liceo Linguistico Giacomo Leopardi of Novara. She came to San Francisco via London where she enjoyed a career spanning several years in the music industry organizing promotional activities for established and up and coming artists.

After moving to San Francisco, she studied various holistic therapies, a passion she then pursued in part-time private practice particularly cranial sacral therapy, lymphatic drainage and acupressure. In parallel, Paola applied her experience in promotions, personal management and interpersonal relations to the field of advanced healthcare technology, with roles in communications management and executive support. She can be found at various venues in the Bay Area and beyond enjoying musical acts perform and she is still a student of holistic therapies, currently studying the Healing from the core curriculum. Paola is passionate about Social Emotional Learning and is forever endeavoring to deepen her meditation practice.

She is the mother of a La Scuola alumni who has had the privilege of volunteering in various capacities and whose heart never left the school. 

Nichole Leon

Nichole Leon

Biography:

Nichole has a deep love for the Reggio Emilia pedagogy and is passionate about learning environments where children are given the opportunity to explore, investigate and develop critical thinking skills. She comes to La Scuola from Bright Horizons, where she worked since 2012 as a site director, and most recently as an education training specialist.

Nichole's teaching in Early Childhood and Kindergarten classrooms for more than 20 years is a welcomed addition to our talented La Scuola team. Nichole earned her B.A. in Child and Adolescent Development from San Francisco State University and her Masters Degree in Early Childhood Studies (Administration, Management and Leadership) from Walden University. She was born and raised in the City's Bayview District, and in her spare time, Nichole enjoys movie nights and spending time with her husband Julio, and their daughter, Elaiyah. Spontaneous dancing happens quite regularly in their home!

 

 

 

 

Connect With Us

At La Scuola, we believe there is Nothing Without Joy. Please click the links below to learn more about our admissions process and how you can find joy here at La Scuola. Or feel free to connect with us directly at admissions@lascuolasf.org. We look forward to getting to know you!